Automatic car-coupling.



v. MARTON. AUTOMATIC GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATION FILED 111L727, 1908.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.v

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VIKTOR MARTON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING-.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

Application filed January 27, 1908. Serial No. 412,688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that L' VIKTOR MAR'roN, a subject of the King of Hungary,resident of Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic. Oar-Couplers, ofwhich the following is a specification, the principle of the. inventionbeing herein explainedand the best mode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

This invention relates, to car coupling mechanism of the J anney type,and has among its objects the provision of a coupler of such typewherein the locking pin, upon being secured in inoperative position inorder to permit the uncoupling of cars, is rendered potentiallyoperative by the separation of the cars, so that when the latter areagain brought together the coupler will be locked without furtherattention or operation.

Other objects are the provision of improved means for retaining thelocking pin against complete removal from the draw-head, and of meansfor preventing undue vertical reciprocation of the draw-heads, such aswould be apt to permit the disengagement of the knuckles.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and. the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but oneof various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing: Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinalsection taken through two interengaging couplers wherein are embodied myseveral improvements; Figs. 2 and 3 are similar sectional views of onesuch coupler, respectively illustrating the parts in different operativepositions; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one such coupler.

Neglecting as immaterial any details of the mounting A of the draw-headA and directing attention to the latter alone, such drawhead will beseen to be ofthe usualform obtaining in the general class of couplers inhand, being formed with a transverse opening or, wherein a knuckle aheldM-by a pin a' and with a vertical aperture a intersecting suchopening, wherein is reciprocable a pin 0. adapted to lock said knucklein its inner closed position. The rear end of knuckle a is provided onits upper face with a cam surface a, inclining in the direction shown inFig. 3, and the lower end a of the pin is beveled so as to present acomplementary incline, Fig. 4:, to such cam surface when properlypositioned with reference thereto. The locking pin is adapted to be heldto thus present its lower end to the incline on the rear end of theknuckle by means of a latch a provided with a rearwardly extending arma, the lower end ofsuch arm being adapted to engage with a recess a inthe aperture a wherein the pin is mounted. Movement of the pin beyondthe point where the latch thus engages with the recess in the aperturewill obviously be effective to dislodge the latch and force the latteragain into alinement with the pin, in which position the pin is free todrop to the bottom of the aperture and lock the knuckle. Additionalmovement requisite to thus render the latch inoperative to retain thepin'in its raised position,-is had by engagement of the rear end of theknuckle with the lower end of the pin, upon the outward movement of theknuckle incidentally to the separation of the draw-heads.

The operating mechanism A for raising the latch, which may be of anydesired construction, (that shown serving purely by way ofillustration), is connected with the rearwardly projecting arm a of thelatch so that when the locking pin is raised the latch will be at thesame time swung into position to engage the recess a. in the aperture 0/as will be obvious.

To prevent com lete withdrawal of the pin it is provided wit a lateraloffset or flange a that is engaged by a pin a intersecting the side ofthe aperture when such locking pin is raised to a corresponding height.In order to prevent undue vertical movement or play of one draw-headrelative to the other, each head is formed with plates a on its top andbottom extending forwardly therefrom to one side of the knuckle a Suchplates are thus adapted to inclose the knuckle of the opposite draw-headabove and below, whereby the object stated is accomplished.

The operation of my improved coupler should be fairly obvious from thedescription of its construction just given. Assuming, however, that withthe parts in the position indicated in Fig. 1, it is desired to separatethe two draw-heads A, or rather the cars that bear the same, mechanism Ais operated to raise the locking pin of one coupler into the positionshown in Fig. 2. The knuckle of such coupler is accordingly left free tobe drawn outwardly upon either car being pulled away from the other, andsuch movement of the knuckle, as has been explained, by raising the pinreleases the latch and leaves the pin again free to drop to the bottomof the aperture and lock the "knuckle as soon as the latter is forcedback of its normal position. This of course occurs when the coupler ofanother car is brought against the first coupler. It will accordingly beevident that my coupler can be placed in condition to permit thewithdrawal of the juxtaposed coupler whether it is desired toimmediately separate the cars or to push for some distance the one to beultimately separated. Immediately, however, upon reversal of themovement of the car connected with the engine, the coupling willseparate, and, without further attention, the coupler of the cardisengaged is left in condition to be again picked up when it is desiredto couple another car thereto. The advantages resulting from this modeof operation should be at once obvious.

Other modes of applying the principle of claim or the equivalent of suchstated means I r be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my inventionIn a car-coupler, the coi'nbination of a draw-head, a knuckle p ivotallymounted therein, the rear end of said knuckle being formed with anincline, a pin adapted to en.- gage such rear end of said knuckle tolock the latter against movement, and a latch carried by said pin andadapted to retain the same in position to be engaged by such incline,lurther movement of said pin, upon such engagement, being adapted torelease said latch.

Signed by me this 25th day of January, 1908. 4

VIKTOR MA R TON.

Attested by- NlARY ISRAEL, J NO. F. OBERLIN.

